I have a problem with the way most young people try to land jobs. The process goes something like this:
Hunting for a job becomes a waiting game. Using this model, it’s hard to build momentum. Your every move depends on whether a company likes you or not. And you have only one card to play: sending your résumé to as many jobs as possible.
Trust me, that gets old quick.
I have another proposition. This one starts from a state of action.
1. Keep searching for opportunities (but stop blasting your résumé at people; do this instead.)
2. On top of that, focus on becoming more hirable. The best way to do this? Master the common tools that businesses use today, and document your knowledge of those tools.
Why does this even matter?
It’s simple:
And here’s the coolest part: the more tools you can use well, the faster your value compounds in comparison to the rest of the job candidates out there.
Want to hear about some of these tools?
If your résumé says “detail oriented” this should be on your list. Even if it’s not, mastering Google’s tools will give you experience quickly in the art of organizing and systematizing data.
Get your Google Suite certification here.
This is a must if you want any kind of analytical role. Without spreadsheets you’ll be left handicapped! Learn Excel and learn it well. Even for those who hate numbers and want nothing to do with data, mastering excel will give you an edge in the digital world, where many people aren’t organized.
You can get many different levels of Excel certification here!
Salesforce is today’s top CRM platform. If you’re considering a marketing or sales role, learning how to navigate a CRM is essential. Even if the companies you end up working for don’t use Salesforce, your basic knowledge of a CRM will be valuable for understanding the way sales and marketing funnels work!
You can get your Salesforce Administrator Certification here.
Email is still the biggest way businesses communicate with each other. It’s crucial to learn an email management software, especially for anyone who is interested in marketing or customer service! Mailchimp is one of the more common platforms. (Hubspot would be another example of a tool that fits in this category.)
Chimp Essentials is a great course for learning Mailchimp! Check it out here.
It’s an obvious for someone who wants to go into marketing. But I think it’s equally as valuable for salespeople and customer service associates to know what goes into running an ad!
Facebook’s certifications can be found here.
Want to start your own business? Interested in sales or marketing? Then master Google Analytics! You’ll be empowered if you know what the data means and how to act on it!
Access Google’s Analytics Academy here.
Video conferencing is a big deal in today’s world. If you’re in customer service, sales, or any other role where you talk to people often, it’s good to have mastered the ins and outs of a service like Zoom. Mastering this tool also means being able to walk other people through minor tech issues with the program, so make sure you can communicate what you’ve learned effectively!
Zoom has some pretty cool live training for each of its different functions. Check it out here!
Want to manage a team someday? Thinking of starting a business? Then it’s time you learn to master your workflow! Trello is one of the best tools to plug in no matter what your job description is.
There’s a pretty cool Trello course here.
1. You can host all these tools and your other skills on a free Crash profile. Using the Crash platform, you’ll be able to show your work in a beautiful visual format and create personalized pitches to companies you want to work for. Take the fun Crash career quiz to get started!
2. Remember to build skills in as many areas as possible. If you’re in sales, that’s great. Lots of people are in sales. But if killing a sales role AND you have a bunch of marketing tools in your back pocket, you’ll be able to leverage many more opportunities! In today’s world of opportunities, it pays to have a diverse portfolio!
3. Documentation is the most important part! You can master all these tools, but if no one else knows what you’ve accomplished, it’s not going to be nearly as valuable to you in the long run. Be open about your learning process, and create value for others with the skills you’re building!
Ready to become indispensable? Let’s do it!
Loved this? Consider applying to Praxis. We’ll help you find and build your skills, then put them to work in a startup apprenticeship. You’ll get much more coaching like this, access to a community of entrepreneurial young people like you, and a portfolio of work that will speak for you wherever you go.